Vials of liquid shut down Bremerton shipyard, ferries affected

The Seattle-Bremerton ferry route was shut down Thursday as officials investigated a possible explosive device at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton.

A suspicious package was reported at around noon Thursday. At 3:37 p.m., technicians with the naval base determined that it was not an explosive threat. Officials continued to examine the package to make sure it did not contain hazardous materials. The Kitsap Sun reports that the package ended up being a bag with vials of liquid inside.

Downtown Bremerton roads reopened around 3:15 p.m. Fast ferry service out of Seattle resumed at 3:55 p.m. And the normal sailing schedule for the ferries began again at 4:15 p.m.

Bremerton bomb investigation

Bremerton police say a person was seen placing a suspicious package just inside a gate at the shipyard on Thursday just before noon.

Police blocked off Pacific Avenue South to the ferry terminal entrance. The Kitsap Sun reports Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton military personnel and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard employees were sheltering in place over the afternoon. They were told to stay indoors, shut windows and doors, and turn off fans, heat and air conditioning units.

Law enforcement and Navy explosive ordnance disposal personnel responded to the scene.

After standing by in Rich’s Passage for an hour, the 12:20 p.m. sailing from Seattle was detoured to the Southworth dock in Port Orchard to drop off ferry riders. Washington State Ferries said only walk-on passengers were allowed to board the 1:30 p.m. sailing out of Bremerton. Vehicle traffic was  not allowed to access the terminal for nearly four hours.

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